Who are you

Situation One

“Silence won’t work here, Miss.” Vincent said. Two hours earlier, after the lady was arrested, Julian went to confirm if the lady’s invitation card was legit and yes, it was legit, so the police released her. But how is that possible? The design was clearly different. How can it be legit? It makes no sense. Julian didn’t care who she was, he just wanted to know how she got the invitation card but the lady refused to tell. They can’t keep her in their custody much longer because she might decide to file a lawsuit against them for k********g and he can’t send her back to the police station either because there was no legal grounds to arrest her. So he reported the situation to Vincent and Vincent told them to take her to his personal doctor for identity verification. At the hospital, Julian supervised the testing himself. The lady’s blood sample, fingerprints and hair sample were taken by the doctor but Julian wasn’t stupid. Although he has no proof, he could judge that the doctor and the lady were not strangers to each other. But he couldn’t care less. All he is waiting for now is the results of the test. But can the result be trusted?

Now in Vincent very own office with Vincent and his personal bodyguard, the lady still refused to talk. The rumor was quite true that no one except Vincent’s personal bodyguard, his personal doctor and Julian can enter Vincent’s office. It quite fortunate that she was allowed to enter and very unfortunate that any other person that want to have a meeting with Vincent would have to go through Julian. The essence of trust.

“Why am I being kept here like a prisoner?” The lady asked Vincent.

“I just want you to provide information about yourself .” Vincent replied

“And what if I refuse?” the lady asked

“Then we would just have to wait for the doctors report”. Vincent said.

Julian entered the office as soon as Vincent finished talking. “I can’t wait for the doctor’s report, Boss” Julian said “And besides, this time I don’t trust the doctor. So, let me do this my way, at least till the doctor arrives.” He said

“okay, fine” Vincent said

He took the sit beside the lady and then the eye contact thing happened again. This caused Julian to frown and look away. He brought out the lady’s invitation card and the original design of the invitation card from his jacket pocket and placed them on the table. While the original design of the card was white and red, the lady’s own was blue and gold.

“While am been polite, please tell me your name, Miss” Julian requested.

“Don’t ask me personal information, Julian. You won’t be needing it. According to my invitation card, you can just call me Lotus for the time being.” the lady replied. Why call him Julian shouldn’t it be Mr. Gary. “Let cut the chase Julian, I know you really don’t care about who I am. All you want to know his how I got the invitation card. So may I ask what is the invitation card to you?” she asked

“Listen very carefully, Lotus. This two invitation cards were created by me.” Julian said pointing at the two cards. “And the only ones I sent out for the convention were the white and red ones. In case you think I might have sent the other design by mistake, I can assure you that there is no way I could have because it is only one sample that exist in this world and it is here with me” Julian said. He brought out his design, then placed it on the table.

“I’m confused, Julian” Vincent interfered “In the past eight years that we’ve been together, there is one thing I can never be mistaken about”

“That is?” Julian inquired

“Your insecurity whenever you see the blue color or the gold color. Although you claim them to be your best colors, I find I rather strange for you to create a card and paint it those colors” Vincent explained.

Julian Gary however have no intention of explaining himself to nobody, so he sort of a easy way out. Something he has never done in the past eight years. Telling the truth. Who knows? The truth might set you free.

“Actually he was made by my fiancee” Julian said truthfully

“Your fiancee could have made another one” Vincent prompted pouring himself a cup of coffee

“She couldn’t have”

“Why not?” Vincent

“Because she died eight years ago” Turns out the truth is not often the best solution to set you free in difficult times. The truth will only opens wounds that are yet to heal

“oh, so sorry son. You’ve gone through a lot and survived. If your father was to be alive, he will be very proud of you” Vincent sympathized, provided Julian’s father was a very good friend of his back in those days on the field

Suddenly the atmosphere was filled with the anger of three different souls for their own different reasons. Vincent caressed his ring, Julian hands turn into a fist under the table while Lotus closed her eyes and bowed her head.

Then their agony was put to rest when someone knocked on the door and came in. “The test results are here, Mr. Spencer” Vincent’s doctor, Dr. Rafael who happens to be Vincent class mate in high School said

“Spill it out already, Rafael” Vincent told him

“It’s strange but her blood sample, fingerprints and hair sample does not match anybody’s that exist. Using her picture, she has no criminal records too” Rafael explained

"Both of you can go” Vincent said to Rafael and his bodyguard

“Are you satisfied now?” Lotus asked once they were gone. “I also gather that you probably won’t let me go until you find something about me or maybe set me free and then put a tail on me. Either way, you wont find anything unless I want you too”

“What do you want?” Vincent asked

“I know you figured out I want something since you figured out am the only one that didn’t give you a standing ovation during the Love Alarm thing”

“You are quite smart. Turns out you planned it all before you approached me On purpose. Spill it out already”

“Very simple. All I want is for Julian to teach me Cyber security in one month, in return I will allow you to find anything you want about me” Lotus said knowing full well that Julian loves challenges. Tough ones

“I wish it was as simple as you said it. First you can’t learn all of Cyber security in one month. And second, with the kind of smart brain you have, I know you want more than that but I will pretend I didn’t see it or could it be that…” Vincent was interrupted

"Or could it be that am not actually smart and all I want is to spend time with Julian because I fancy him. Isn’t that what you wanted to say Mr. Spencer?” Lotus asked “Don’t you think you are over estimating Julian. As a formal FBI agent I expected you to be exceptional and analyze situation properly. I’m disappointed I most say” wrong move Lotus

“Wow! No one knows am a formal FBI agent. How in the world did you know that?” Vincent was suddenly serious

“Uh, how could I not know when there is a picture of you with an FBI badge on your wall” Lotus said almost losing composure while Julian and Vincent confirmed it. That was a narrow escape. Lotus suddenly realize that she was not in an ordinary office, there are to many strange things, like the one in movies. Who puts a full length mirror in an office unless there is secret passage behind. How about a button bedside the book shelf… okay that is the light switch. It most be top secret, no wonder no one is allowed in his office. Vincent was about to say something but Lotus saved him the trouble “Your secret is save with me”

“Good, Lotus. So, you wanna learn Cyber security in a month. Your challenge is quite interesting but what do you do to earn a living”

“I’m an artist”

“I’m sorry but an artist can’t become an hacker. It’s impossible”

“But according to Julian in a resent live broadcast there is no such things as impossible”

“fine I accept your challenge” Julian said out of the blues. “But I have my condition of course”

“Yes I know, if you win I will tell you how I got the card but what happens if you loose?” Lotus asked

“I will do whatever you ask me to” Julian replied.

“Even if I ask you to quite cyber security as a career?”

“What?” Julian asked in confusion

“Scared?” lotus asked with an eyebrow up

“You are quite ambitious Lotus, even if am yet to figure you out. So I accept your challenge on behalf of Julian Gary” Vincent intervened

“But..” Julian tried to protest

“No buts kid. I know you promised me never to quit Cyber security but I also know you can’t loose to a girl” That was quite fatherly from someone like Vincent Spencer. After a while Julian made up his mind

“Deal Lotus”

“Deal Julian”.

*****************************

“Are you not scared to walk up to me this way”

“Why should I be?”

“Everyone here does, because I own this library”

“I like you”

“You are crazy. What do you want?”

“I want you teach me how to be the best writer in the world”

“It’s impossible”

“There is no such things as impossible”

“Ok, fine. whether I teach you or not, you have to become the best writer in this library and if you loose remember to keep your distance from me

“And if win?”

“I will do whatever you as me to do”

“Even if I ask you to marry me?”

*******************

“Claire!” Sweaty Julian woke up with a scream from his dream, breathing like the world was coming to an end.

Déjà vu